Food For The Sick – Eggnog

Beat the yolk of 1 egg with 1 table spoonful of pulverized sugar to the consistency of cream; grate in a little nutmeg; add 1 large table-spoonful of brandy and 2 of Madeira wine. Beat the white of the egg to a stiff froth, and mix in with 1 cup of nice sweet milk.

Remarks.This is palatable, and for weak and feeble patients will be found very invigorating and strengthening, the true “Madeira” being rich in its tonic and invigorating qualities. The original formula ran thus: ” The yolks of 16 eggs, and 16 table spoonfuls of pulverized loaf-sugar (the day of this ” loaf-sugar” is over, except in small cubes or squares) beaten to a cream; 1 grated nutmeg; % pt. of good brandy or rum, and 2 glasses of Madeira wine. The whites beaten to a stiff froth and put in, finishing with 6 pts. of milk made cold.” This would indicate that it was being made for general or hospital use, or the patient must have been expected to live on it for a week at least, or otherwise to have many visitors. But this was a universal practice in an early day, and finally whiskey took the place of the brandy and the wine. No party or evening gathering was considered to be weIl provided for unless a large supply of milk punch or eggnog was prepared and set before the guests, when ever one was expected to help themselves, from time to time, to all they desired; but it is one of the most dangerous forms in which liquor can be placed before young men, and especially so if there are to be frequent evening parties. I speak from the experience of my early life, where this beverage was freely supplied by a man of social disposition, having plenty of means, to induce about a dozen of us young men to spend our evenings in his society at least two or three evenings in the week. But, for one, I soon discovered that the days were too long, and that I desired the parties would suit me better every night rather than only two or three in the week, and on the days upon which a party was to gather in the evening, I wanted night to come even before supper-time, which opened my eyes to the danger of these nightly meetings while I yet had moral courage and strength of mind to say: ” Excuse me, I shall meet with you no more,”and I did not, notwithstanding the jibes and jeers of my associates in labor through the day. To this decision, made very soon after my marriage, I owe a life of great industry and labor, in which, I humbly believe, I have done at least some good to my fellow creatures; for which I feel very grateful to Him to whom we all have to render an account. Then allow me to say to everyone, but especially so to every young man: ” Touch not any liquor as a beverage, as you hope to spend a life of usefulness here, and of happiness in the better land beyond the river.”